What Is VA Aid and Attendance?
VA Aid and Attendance is a monthly, tax-free pension benefit paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help cover the cost of long-term care. While many people associate this benefit with veterans, the surviving spouses of wartime veterans may also be eligible — and thousands of widows across the country are missing out on money they are rightfully owed.
If your late husband or wife served during wartime, you may qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits to help pay for home care, assisted living, adult day care, or skilled nursing facility care. In 2026, the maximum monthly benefit for a surviving spouse is $1,558 per month ($18,696 per year) — a significant amount of financial relief that can make a real difference in your quality of care and peace of mind.
Who Qualifies for Aid and Attendance as a Surviving Spouse?
To be eligible for Aid and Attendance as a surviving spouse, you must meet several requirements related to the veteran’s service, your marriage, your health, and your financial situation.
Veteran’s Service Requirements
The veteran you were married to must have served at least 90 days of active military duty, with at least one day during a recognized wartime period. The veteran’s discharge must have been honorable or other than dishonorable. Recognized wartime periods include:
- World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)
- Korean War (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)
- Vietnam War (August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)
- Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – present)
The veteran does not need to have served in combat — simply serving on active duty during a recognized wartime period is enough to establish wartime eligibility.
Marriage Requirements
You must have been legally married to the veteran at the time of their death and must not have remarried. There is one important exception: if you remarried and that marriage ended through death or divorce between January 1, 1971 and November 1, 1990, and you have not married again since, you may still be eligible.
Unlike benefits for living veterans, surviving spouses can apply for Aid and Attendance at any age — there is no minimum age requirement.
Care Needs Requirement
You must require assistance from another person to perform some of the basic activities of daily living. These activities include bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and transferring (moving from a bed to a chair, for example). You do not need help with all of these activities — needing assistance with just one or two may be enough to qualify.
The VA also recognizes that being a patient in an assisted living facility or nursing home is, in itself, an indication that you need the aid and attendance of another person.
Financial Requirements
Aid and Attendance is a needs-based benefit, which means your income and net worth must fall within VA guidelines. For 2026, the net worth limit is $163,699. This includes both assets and income, though certain assets — like your primary home and vehicle — are generally excluded from the calculation.
The benefit is structured as a reimbursement, which means you must be paying out-of-pocket for your care before you can receive payment. Once approved, the VA sends monthly payments directly to you.
What Types of Care Does Aid and Attendance Cover?
One of the most important things to understand about Aid and Attendance is its flexibility. The benefit is not limited to a specific type of care setting. Surviving spouses can use it to help pay for:
- In-home care — provided by a professional caregiver, family member, or friend
- Assisted living — including memory care and board-and-care homes
- Adult day care — for those who receive care during the day but live at home
- Skilled nursing facilities — including long-term nursing home care
Home care providers do not need to be licensed in most cases. A family member who helps with bathing, dressing, and other daily activities can qualify as a caregiver for the purposes of this benefit, though specific rules apply.
2026 Aid and Attendance Benefit Amounts for Surviving Spouses
The VA adjusts benefit amounts each year based on the cost of living. Effective December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the Aid and Attendance benefit rates are as follows:
| Beneficiary | Monthly Benefit (2026) | Annual Benefit (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving Spouse | $1,558 | $18,696 |
| Single Veteran | $2,424 | $29,088 |
| Married Veteran | $2,874 | $34,488 |
| Two Veterans (Married) | $3,845 | $46,140 |
These payments are tax-free and do not need to be repaid. The benefit is paid on a monthly basis by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, similar to Social Security.
The Aid and Attendance Form for Surviving Spouses
Many surviving spouses search specifically for the Aid and Attendance form, so it is worth clarifying exactly what you will need to file. There is no single standalone “Aid and Attendance form.” Instead, surviving spouses apply through a package of VA forms and supporting documents submitted together as a complete claim.
The primary form for surviving spouses is VA Form 21P-534EZ, titled “Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child.” This is the form that establishes your eligibility as a surviving spouse and initiates your pension claim. Aid and Attendance is requested as part of this application by indicating that you require the aid and attendance of another person.
Supporting Documents Required with Your Application
The form itself is only one piece of the puzzle. A complete and well-documented application will also require the following:
- VA Form 21-2680 — Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance, completed and signed by your physician. This is the specific medical form the VA requires to establish your need for Aid and Attendance
- VA Form 21-0779 — Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance. Required if you are currently residing in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility
- VA Form 21-4142 — Authorization to Disclose Information (allows the VA to obtain medical records on your behalf)
- Veteran’s DD-214 — The veteran’s Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, confirming wartime service and discharge status
- Veteran’s death certificate — Required to establish your status as a surviving spouse
- Marriage certificate — Proof that you were legally married to the veteran at the time of their death
- Financial documentation — Recent bank statements, income records, and information on any assets
- Caregiver agreement or care invoices — Documentation showing you are currently paying for care
Incomplete applications are one of the most common reasons Aid and Attendance claims are delayed or denied. The VA will request missing documents, but each back-and-forth exchange can add months to your wait time.
Where to Send the Application
Completed applications are mailed to the VA Pension Management Center that serves your state. There are three regional centers — in Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Philadelphia — and the correct one depends on where you live. You can find the mailing address for your region on the VA’s official website at va.gov.
Keep a complete copy of everything you submit and send your application via certified mail so you have proof of the submission date. The effective date of your award — meaning when your payments begin — is generally tied to the date the VA receives your claim, so filing sooner rather than later matters.
Why Work with a VA-Accredited Benefits Consultant?
Navigating the VA claims process on your own can be overwhelming, especially during an already difficult time. That is why many surviving spouses choose to work with a VA-accredited benefits consultant who specializes in Aid and Attendance claims.
At Patriot Angels, our benefit specialists work under the direct supervision of our VA-accredited attorney and have helped over 30,000 veterans and surviving spouses secure more than $1 billion in benefits since 2012. We understand the specific requirements for surviving spouse claims and can help you gather the right documentation, file a complete application, and avoid the common mistakes that cause delays.
Ready to find out if you qualify? Call us today at (844) 757-3047 or fill out our free consultation form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a surviving spouse get Aid and Attendance if the veteran never applied?
Yes. The surviving spouse files their own independent claim for Aid and Attendance through the VA Survivors Pension program. Whether the veteran ever applied for benefits during their lifetime has no bearing on the surviving spouse’s eligibility.
Does the veteran need to have died from a service-connected condition?
No. Aid and Attendance through the Survivors Pension program does not require the veteran’s death to be service-connected. What matters is that the veteran served on active duty during a recognized wartime period and received an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge.
What form do surviving spouses use to apply for Aid and Attendance?
Surviving spouses apply using VA Form 21P-534EZ, “Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child.” Aid and Attendance is requested within that application. The form must be submitted along with supporting documents including the veteran’s DD-214, death certificate, marriage certificate, VA Form 21-2680 (completed by your physician), and financial documentation.
How long does it take to get approved for Aid and Attendance?
Processing times vary, but most claims take between four and twelve months from the date of submission. Claims that are complete and well-documented at the time of filing tend to be processed more quickly. Working with an experienced benefits consultant can help ensure your application is as strong as possible from the start.
Can I receive Aid and Attendance if I am already on Medicaid?
Receiving Aid and Attendance may affect your Medicaid eligibility, as the benefit counts as income. However, in many states, Medicaid rules allow for certain exclusions or adjustments. If you are currently on Medicaid or considering applying, it is important to understand how the two programs interact in your state before proceeding.
What is the difference between Survivors Pension and DIC?
Survivors Pension (which includes Aid and Attendance) is a needs-based benefit for surviving spouses of wartime veterans who meet income and net worth requirements. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a separate benefit paid when a veteran’s death was caused by a service-connected condition, or when the veteran was rated 100% permanently and totally disabled before death. Some surviving spouses may qualify for both benefits.
